Rug wear testing machine



" July 21, 1959. J. FESPERMAN EIAL RUG WEAR TESTING MACHJINE Filed Aprill9, 1955 m w .nmm

pHy M r F m Lmm g m J m w United States Patent RUG WEAR TESTING MACHINEJames L. Fesperman and 'Robert F. Hackney, Dalton, Gm, assignors toCabin Crafts, Inc., Dalton, Ga., a corporation of Georgia ApplicationApril 19, 1955, Serial No. 502,386

Claims. (Cl. 73-7) This invention relates to wear testing machines andmore particularly to machines for testing specimens or samples of rugsand like materials which are constantly subjected to wear by abrasion,friction and pressure such as by the feet of persons walking thereon.

It is an object of the invention to provide a testing machine of simplestructure which may be economically assembled from component parts ofsimple form which may be inexpensively manufactured or bought on themarket individually. A related object is to provide such a machine whichwill be durable and reliable in operation throughout a long life.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine which will, asnearly as possible, duplicate the action of peoples feet on a rug inorder to test the wearability of rug samples and like materials whichare subjected to constant wear by people walking thereon.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear as it isdescribed in connection with the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

a Fig. 1 is a side elevation view of a machine embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine.

Fig. 3 is a detail view partly broken away of a portion of the machine.

Referring to the drawing, the machine may be mounted on a four legged orother suitable frame having a horizontal platform 10 on which is securedan electric motor 12 connected to reduction gearing 14 of standard formand construction which may be readily purchased on the market. Ahorizontal main drive shaft 16, rotating at reduced speed, extends fromthe gear box 14 and has flexibly mounted thereon for rotation therewitha sprocket 18. Around this sprocket 18 is trained a chain 19 which isalso trained around a sprocket 20 on a horizontal intermediate shaft 22parallel to and below the driving shaft 16. The intermediate shaft 22 isjournaled in suitable bearings mounted on the platform 10. Besides theis in the form of a large disc but acts as a crank to drive a connectingrod 52, one end of which is pivotally connected therewith, while itsopposite end is pivotally con nected with a shoe 54. The shoe 54 ispreferably a rectangular block of metal but may have any desired shapesuitable to press on the rug specimen and simulate the shoe of a personwalking on the rug.

As illustrated, wearing action on the rug is applied by a fibre boardplate or sole 55 on the bottom of the shoe 54. The shoe has a horizontalpassage therethrough for a horizontal supporting rod 56 which ispivotally mounted at one end near the edge of the platform on ahorizontal pin 58. The portion of the rod 56 near said pivotal mountingmay be arched, if desired, to pass over the main shaft 16. The other endof the supporting rod 56 extends beyond the opposite end of the platformand is pivotally connected to the outer end of an upwardly extendingpiston rod 60 which projects from a pneumatic cylinder 62. The lower endof the cylinder has a longitudinal bearing member 63 extendingtherefrom, through which extends a horizontal pin 65 by which thecylinder is pivotally supported from the machine frame.

Within the cylinder 62 is a conventional piston, acted on by compressedair, as a D-type slide valve controlled by an electric solenoid isoperated. The solenoid and valve are in a housing 64 secured against theend of the casing of cylinder 62, with which the valve passagescomsprocket 20, the intermediate shaft also carries a pair of disc cams24 and 25 and a second sprocket 26. All rotate with the shaft. Aroundthe sprocket 26 is trained a chain 28 which drives another sprocket 30affixed on shaft 32 below the platform 10 and parallel to the main driveshaft 16 and intermediate shaft 22.

Lower shaft 32 is mounted in bearings carried by platform 10, andcarries another sprocket 34 around which is trained a horizontallyrunning chain 36 which drives a sprocket 38 afiixed on a horizontalshaft 40 extending out of a reduction gear box 42 mounted beneath andsupported from the platform 10 at the opposite end from motor12. l f

Extending up from the gear box 42 is a vertical shaft 44 which passesthrough the platform 10 and has mounted on its upper end a turntable 46which rotates with the shaft 44. On the tablenthe specimen to be testedis removably fastened in any suitable fashion. The table turns veryslowly by reason of the reduction gearing 42.

On the opposite end of the main shaft 16 from the sprocket 18 is adriving member 50 which, as illustrated,

municate. The valve admits compressed air from a source through a hoseor pipe 61 at one side of the piston or the other, permitting exhaustfrom the cylinder in front or behind the piston as the piston is forcedfrom one end of the cylinder to the other. An exhaust port is providedin the valve block for that purpose. Since the valve and the pneumaticpiston and cylinder structures are purchased as a unit on the market andtheir functions are already known, their details are not shown. Thevalve solenoid is connected by wires 66', 66" from an electric cable 66to a source of power and to electric switches 67, 68 of conventionalconstruction. The switches are or may be of the momentary contact typeand each is in series with the power source and with one or the other ofthe coils of the solenoid which move the air valve in its two oppositepositions. The switches have arms 67, 68' extending therefrom in thepath of the rotary cams 24 and 25 on the intermediate shaft 22. Lobes24' and 25' on the cams are located 180 apart so that with eachrevolution of the cam, the switch it controls will be operated once.Switch 6'] causes the piston to descend and switch 68 causes the pistonto ascend. The descent will cause the supporting rod 56 to rockdownwardly and the shoe to press on the rug sample. Such action is timedto occur during the forward stroke of the shoe along the horizontalsupporting rod 56. Raising of the shoe by ascent of the piston rod istimed to take place during the return stroke of the shoe along thesupporting rod 56. Such timing is accomplished by having the cam shaft22 rotate once for each rotation of the main shaft 16, such as by havingthe sprockets 18 and 20 equal. p,

In order to remove lint and dust as the rug sample wears and to tend tomake the rug pile stand up, and also to hold the temperature normal byovercoming the heat generated by friction of the shoe on the sample, anarrow hollow hood 76 is attached to one side of the shoe and hasextensions around the ends of the shoe. The hood is somewhat like themouth of a vacuum cleaner and opens downwardly. The upper portion of thehood 3 the shoe is raised. By reason of the slow rotation of the tableon which the sample is mounted, the wear is not directional but isapplied at differing angles during the rotation of the table and sample.The sliding action of the shoe on the rug is similar to the action of apersons shoe upon a rug as he walks upon the rug. The pressure of theshoe upon the rug can be maintained constant throughout the test periodor can be varied momentarily or over different periods by regulation ofa pressure control valve 80 in the air supply line 82.

Preferably the shoe is made approximately the size of the sole of a mansshoe or approximately 4" by 5". Obviously, if desired, the shoe might bemade of exactly the same form and configuration as a mans shoe with asole and heel portion. Also, the shoe could be interchangeable and oneshoe could be made the shape and configuration of a womans shoe, if itshould be desired that the different conditions of wear to which rugsare normally subjected be more exactly reproduced by the machine. Undermost conditions, however, it is believed that the shoe shape firstdescribed will suflice.

Due to the fact that some short period of time is necessary for the airto be exhausted from the cylinder beneath the piston, when compressedair is being caused to enter above the piston, the shoe will be presseddown after the start of, and during, the forward motion of the shoe andwill engage the rug sample while the shoe is in forward motion. Theexact point of engagement of the shoe relative to its position along thesupporting rod can be regulated by adjustment of the cam 25 on theintermediate shaft. Similarly, the point at which the shoe is caused torise from the sample relative to the position of the shoe along thesupporting rod can be controlled by adjustment of the cam 24 on theintermediate shaft. In this way, if it is preferred to have the shoestart to rise from the rug at or just prior to the shoe reaching the endof its forward travel, the adjustment of the cam 24 can be made for thatpurpose. For counting the number of strokes made by the shoe, a counter800 may be provided in position to have its actuating finger operated bythe connecting rod 52 each time it descends.

From the foregoing, it may be readily understood that the inventionprovides means for closely simulating the action of peoples shoes upon arug and enables measurements to be taken by laboratory instruments todetermine the degree of wear, by measuring the thickness and weight ofthe rug sample at different stages of the test period. At all times therug sample is maintained at normal temperature and heat. Manymodifications within the scope of the invention will occur to thoseskilled in the art. Therefore, the invention is not limited to the exactform and arrangement of parts as illustrated and described in theembodiment disclosed.

What is claimed is:

1. A wear testing machine comprising a rotatable table upon which a testspecimen is attachable, a movable shoe above the table, means to movethe shoe to and fro over the specimen, means to press the shoe upon thespecimen while the shoe moves in one direction, and to raise the shoeoff the specimen and to move it in the other direction, and means todrive the shoe moving means and to rotate continuously the table incoordination therewith.

2. A wear testing machine as claimed in claim I having a pivotedsupported member, said shoe being movable along and guided by saidmember.

3. A wear testing machine as claimed in claim 2 wherein the means tomove the shoe to and fro comprises a crank and connecting rodarrangement causing more rapid motion of the shoe during the midportionof its movement over the specimen than at the ends of such movement.

4. A wear testing machine as claimed in claim 1 having crank andconnecting rod means to move the shoe across the specimen, causing morerapid motion at the midportion of said movement than at the ends.

5. A wear testing machine as claimed in claim 1 having a suction headattached to the shoe, and means for connecting a suction hose to saidhead.

6. A Wear testing machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein the means topress and to raise the shoe comprises a pneumatic cylinder and piston,the piston being connected to said guide means.

7. A wear testing machine as claimed in claim 6 having electricallycontrolled valve means to control said cylinder and piston, and meansoperated by said drive to operate said valve means.

8. A Wear testing machine as claimed in claim 1 having crank andconnecting rod means to move the shoe across the specimen, causing morerapid motion at the midportion of said movement than at the ends andwherein the means to press and to raise the shoe comprises a pneumaticcylinder and piston, the piston being connected to said guide means.

9. A Wear testing machine as claimed in claim 8 having electricallycontrolled valve means to control said cylinder 1 der and piston, andmeans operated by said drive to operate said valve means.

10. A wear testing machine as claimed in claim 1 having means attachedto the shoe to draw 01f lint and dirt during operation of the machineand wherein the means to press and to raise the shoe comprises apneumatic cylinder and piston, the piston being connected to said guidemeans.

11. A wear testing machine as claimed in claim 10 having electricallycontrolled valve means to control said cylinder and piston, and meansoperated by said drive to operate said 'valve means.

12. A wear testing machine comprising a rotary table on which a specimento be tested may be attached, a shoe, a supporting member for said shoealong which the shoe is slidable, means to move said supporting memberup and down and to press said shoe upon the specimen, means to slidesaid shoe along said supporting member, driving means causing said shoeto engage and press upon said specirnen'when moving inone directiononly, and means coordinated with said driving means to rotatecontinuously said table to change the area of engagement of said shoewith said specimen.

13. A wear testing machine comprising a rotary table on which a specimento be tested may be attached, a shoe, a supporting member for said shoealong which the shoe is slidable, pneumatically operated piston meanspivotally connected to said supporting member to move it up and down andto press said shoe upon the specimen, means to slide said shoe alongsaidsupporting member, driving means causing said shoe to engage and pressupon said specimen when moving in one direction only, and meanscoordinated with said driving means to rotate said table to change thearea of engagement of said shoe with said specimen.

14. A wear testing machine as claimed in claim 13 having electricallycontrolled valve means' to control said cylinder and piston, and meansoperated by said drive to operate said valve means.

15. A wear testing machine as claimed in claim 1 in which saidshoe-raising means lifts the shoe off the specimen after the shoe startsto'move in said other direction.

References Cited in the file of this patent V UNITED STATES PATENTS955,630 Carney et a1. Apr. 19, 1910 1,344,301 Jury l June 22, 19201,732,811 l-Iill p Oct. 22, 1929 1,906,175 Millet Apr. 25,1933 2,032,202Dennis Feb. 25, 1936 2,100,332 Hathaway et al. Nov. 30, 1937 2,293,344Kenyon et al. Aug. 18, 1942 2,412,221 Kallas et al. Dec/10, 19462,673,462 Thompson Mar. 30, 1954'

